Adjustable liquid connector



p 1968 H. E. RITTENHOUSE 3,402,945

ADJUSTABLE LIQUID CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1967 FIG- INVENTOR HOWARD E. RITTENHOUSE BY a;

ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1968 HE. RITTENHOUSE 3,402,945

ADJUSTABLE LIQUID CONNECTOR Filed April 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HOWARD E. RITTENHOUSE BY P ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,402,945 ADJUSTABLE LIQUID CONNECTOR Howard Earl Rittenhouse, Greeneville, Tenn., assignor to Bowser, Inc., Greeneville, Tenn., a corporation of Indiana Filed Apr. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 633,084 3 Claims. (Cl. 285--192) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable liquid connector is provided by a pipe having a bead or flange near one end. An O-ring is placed on the pipe between the bead and the one end, and the one end is inserted in a pipe receptacle and adjusted to the desired position. The pipe is firmly held in the desired position by clamps which are bolted to the pipe receptacle and which bear against the bead. The pipe and receptacle may rotate relative to each other if desired.

Background of the invention My invention relates to an adjustable liquid connector and particularly to an adjustable liquid connector which can be easily adjusted in assembly and then firmly clamped in its adjusted position.

In piping for liquids, particularly piping for gasoline dispensers, rigid (as opposed to flexible) pipes and connections have been used. While rigid pipes and connections are safe and strong, they must be accurately dimensioned in order to be assembled. The required accuracy makes the parts and their assembly more expensive. Rigid pipes and connections have a relatively small degree of adjustability. If any one part is dimensionally inaccurate or incorrect, this incorrect part may have to be changed or replaced in order that the assembly can be completed. Such a correction or replacement wastes time and money. Rigid pipes and connection-s tend to transmit stresses and strains to the weakest part in the assembly so that this weakest part fails more quickly. In the case of a gasoline dispenser, the weakest part subject to failure is the dispenser pump or the dispenser meter, both of which are essential and expensive.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid connector.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid connector that can be adjusted during assembly and then clamped to provide a rigid structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid connector that can be adjusted during assembly to correct for the inaccuracy of one or more parts making up the assembly.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid conneetor that utilizes part-s with relatively large amounts of tolerance variance and hence relatively low cost.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid connector that utilizes parts of relatively low dimensional accuracy and cost to form a rigid structure having the needed over-all dimensional accuracy.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid connector that permits the parts to be adjusted during assembly and then clamped to form a rigid structure that transmits relatively small amounts of stresses and strains to other parts of the assembly.

Sum'mary 0f the invention Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with my invention by a pipe of the desired diameter and shape. A rim or flange is provided around the pipe near each end of the pipe to be connected. A resilient O- 3,402,945 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 ring is positioned around the pipe between the flange and the adjacent end. The end carrying the O-ring is positioned or placed in a pipe receptacle which fits around the O- ring snugly, but which permits the pipe to be adjusted and oriented to fit with other parts, such as another receptacle at the other end of the pipe. A clamp formed of two identical halves is fitted around the pipe on the other side of the flange away from the O-ring, and is fastened to the pipe receptacle to hold the pipe and receptacle in a firm, liquid-tight relation. If desired, the pipe and receptacle may rotate relative to each other, or may be held by a locking ring in a fixed position relative to each other.

Brief description of the drawing The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims. The structure and operation of my invention, together with further objects and advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an elevation view in cross-section of an adjustable liquid connector in accordance with my invention used between a fixed pipe receptacle and a threaded hose connector;

FIGURE 2 shows an elevation view of the threaded hose connector;

FIGURE 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5 and 6 show plan and edge views of one half of one clamp used in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 7 and 8 show cross-sectional views of a locking ring used for the threaded hose connector in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 9 shows a plan view of one half of a second clamp used in FIGURE 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation view in cross-section of a connector in accordance with my invention as utilized in a gasoline dispenser. It is to be understoood that my connector may be utilized in any type of liquid piping system. As used in the dispenser, my connector is intended to joint a pipe receptacle 10 (which connects to a pump or meter discharge that is not shown) and a threaded hose connector 12 (which is positioned at a location on a wall or panel 14 of the gasoline dispenser). FIGURE 2 shows another elevation view of the threaded connector 12. The connector 12 is threaded at 13 to receive a hose (not shown). In the embodiment shown, my connector comprises a cylindrical tube or pipe 16 of the desired diameter and shape. One end 18 of the pipe 16 which fits into the receptacle 10 is provided with a rim or flange 20. The flange 20 is spaced from the end 18, and completely circles the circumference of the pipe 16. A resilient O-ring 22 is positioned around the pipe 16 between the flange 20 and the adjacent one end 18. The outside diameter of the flange 20 is made slightly less than the inside diameter of a cylindrical bore or cavity 24 in the receptacle 10, and the outside diameter of the pipe 16 at the end 18 is made slightly less than the inside diameter of a cylindrical bore or cavity 26 which is positioned inwardly of and coaxially with the cavity 24. When the pipe 16 is connected to the receptacle 10, the O-ring 22 is positioned around the end 18, and the end 18 inserted into the cavity 26 of the receptacle 10. The pipe 16 is then adjusted and oriented to its desired position, and is then firmly held in the receptacle 10 by a clamp 28 which comprises two identical halves 30, 32. More detailed views of the clamp 28 are shown in FIGURE 4 which is taken along the lines 4-4 in FIGURE 1, and in FIGURES 5 and 6 which show a plan view and an edge view of the half 32 of the clamp 28. Each of the halves 30, 32 is formed from a plate and is provided with a semi-circular opening 33 and two bolt holes 34, 45 in its ends 36, 37. The semi-circular opening 33 has a diameter that is just large enough to permit the edge of each half to fit snugly against the pipe 16 but that is small enough to prevent the rim or flange 20 from passing therethrough. One end 37 is offset upward as shown in FIGURE 6 to permit the other end 36 (of the other half) to be positioned under or beneath the end 37. When the two halves 30, 32 are assembled, the openings 33 are positioned around the pipe 16. The hole 34 at the end 36 of one half is aligned with the hole at the end 37 of the other half. The two halves 30, 32 are then clamped or bolted to the receptacle 10 by threaded bolts 40, 41. When the bolts 40, 41 are tightened, the pipe 16 is firmly held in any desired orientation or position relative to the receptacle 10. The two cavities 24, 26 are just large enough so that orientation or adjustment is possible but so that the O-ring 22 provides a liquid-tight connection. Actually, the clamp halves 3t), 32 retain the structure, but do not aid in sealing. Sealing is done by the O-ring 22 in the bore 24 and around the pipe 16.

The other end 19 of the pipe 16 is also provided with a rim or flange 21 which circles the circumference of the pipe 16 near its other end 19. A resilient O-ring 23 is positioned on the pipe 16 between the end 19 and the flange 21. The end 19 of the pipe 16 is then inserted in the cavities of the threaded hose connector 12. These cavities are similar to the cavities 24, 26 in the receptacle 10. The flange 21 and the pipe 16 fit in the cavities of the threaded connector 12 so that the pipe 16 and the threaded connector 12 can be adjusted or oriented with respect to each other. After this adjustment, the pipe 16 and the connector 12 are clamped together by a clamp comprising two identical halves 51, 52. FIGURE 3 shows a view of the two halves 51, 52 taken along the lines 3-3 in FIGURE 1. The two halves 51, 52 are held by bolts 55, 56 which pass through openings or holes 53, 54 in the end of the halves 51, 52 and are threaded into the connector 12. FIGURE 9 shows one half 52 with the bolt holes 53, 54 in its two ends. One of the two ends of each half is offset upward in the manner described and explained for the clamp 28 so that the two halves 51, 52 may be assembled around the pipe 16 and clamped to the threaded connector 12.

The threaded connector 12 is provided with an outer circular surface 60 which is designed to fit in and bear against the surface 61 of a circular opening in the panel or wall 14 of the dispenser. The surfaces 60, 61 permit the threaded connector 12 to be swiveled or pivoted about the end 19 of the pipe 16 if desired. Or, the threaded connector 12 may be locked by means of a locking ring 65 shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The locking ring 65 is provided with an internal opening 66 which is large enough to accommodate or clear the flange 21, and is also provided with holes 67 for the bolts 55, 56. A portion of the locking ring 65 is bent to form two tabs 70, 72 which fit into notched openings 74, 76 positioned at diametrically opposite points in the opening 61 in the panel 14. If the locking ring 65 is used, it is positioned between the clamp 50 and the threaded connector 12 as shown in FIGURE 1 and hold the pipe 16 and connector 12 in a fixed position. If the locking ring 65 is not used, the threaded connector 12 may be pivoted about the end 19 of the pipe 16.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides a new and improved adjustable liquid connector. My connector permits a generally rigid type of connection to be used, but permits this rigid type of connection to be adjusted or oriented to compensate for manufacturing tolerances Cir or misalignment of parts in the assembly. The pipe 16 is relatively easily formed, as the flanges 20, 21 can be easily rolled or formed on the pipe 16. These flanges 21, 21 retain the O-rings 22, 23 and form a solid backing for the O-rings 22, 23 subjected to the pressure of the liquid in the pipe 16. The clamps 28, 50 are easily formed, since both halves of these clamps are identical. The clamps may be assembled after the pipe 16 is in position, and it is not necessary that the clamps be placed on the pipe 16 before the flanges 20, 21 are formed. My invention also permits a swivel or rotary connection between the pipe 16 and the pipe receptacle, depending upon the desired construction. This is achieved as shown in FIG- URE l by the threaded connector 12 which is free to rotate about the pipe 16 in the absence of the locking ring 65. Use of the threaded connector 12 permits this piece to be manufactured with a relatively large amount of tolerance or variance, as it is reliably attached to the pipe 16 in accordance with my invention. If the threaded connector 12 is permitted to pivot or rotate, it reduces strain on a hose threaded thereto. And finally, since the connector of my invention permits the various parts to be adjusted to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and dimensional inaccuracies, there are no stresses or strains introduced into the various parts so that stresses or strains at one point are not transmitted through the connector to another part which may be delicate, or weak, or expensive.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the connector of my invention. For example, my connector may be made of any suitable material, such as steel or aluminum, and may be formed in almost any desired manufacturing technique, such as by spinning, extrusion, or casting. Likewise, the O-rings may be made of any suitable resilient material such as synthetic rubber, as long as the material provides a reliable and firm liquid-tight connection that is not attacked by the liquid being piped. My clamp halves may take other configurations, and still provide clamping by being assembled around the pipe and bolted to the receptacle. Therefore, while my invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Untied States is:

1. An improved liquid connector comprising:

(a) a cylindrical pipe having an outwardly extending flange around its circumference near one end thereof;

(b) a resilient O-ring positioned around the exterior of said pipe on one side of said flange between said flange and said one end;

(c) a pipe receptacle having a first cylindrical opening at one face thereof, said first cylindrical opening having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said flange, and having a second cylindrical opening positioned coaxial with and inwardly of said first cylindrical opening, said second cylin drical opening having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said one end of said cylindrical pipe;

(d) said pipe being positioned in said receptacle with said one end of said cylindrical pipe in said second cylindrical opening and with said flange in said first cylindrical opening;

(e) clamping means positioned around the exterior of said pipe on the other side of said flange opposite said O-ring, said clamping means having an internal opening of a diameter less than said external diam-- eter of said flange;

(f) a locking ring positioned between said clampingmeans and said one face of said pipe receptacle, said locking ring having at least one projection for engaging a notch in a supporting plate to prevent;

5 relative rotation of said pipe and said pipe receptacle;

(g) and means fastening said clamping means to said one face of said pipe receptacle to force said flange toward said second cylindrical opening and clamp said pipe to said pipe receptacle in a rigid but adjustable structure.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprises two identical halves, each of which overlaps the other at one end and each of which is overlapped by the other at the other end.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said internal diameter of said second cylindrical opening is less than said external diameter of said flange and wherein said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,698 4/1932 Parker 285368 2,550,591 4/1951 Parsons 285-374 3,215,455 11/1965 Fiala et al. 285233 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

W. L. SHEDD, Assistant Examiner. 

